Rustic Seating Chart

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These seating cards were pinned to an oversize map of the USA (outlined in twine) depicting where each person had traveled from to attend the wedding. In big letters at the bottom it read "Welcome to the Heartland".

Photography: Elisabeth Millay Photography

Window Seating Chart

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This bride transformed an old window she found in her parents' basement into a unique escort card display, using a white paint pen to write guests' names and table numbers.

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Photography: Claire Morgan

Alphabet Seating Chart

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This unique chart used letters instead of numbers mapped out the floor plan and table assignments: "W I E N" for Vienna (in German), "L O V E", and "H" and "M", representing the bride and groom’s last names. Gold satin bows were a fun touch.

Photography: Jessica Antola

Bookmark Escort Cards

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In keeping with the literary theme of this couple's reception location, letterpressed bookmarks, calligraphed with attendees' names, led them to their seats.

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Photography: Lisa Lefkowitz

Fresh Blooms

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Paper leaves inscribed with guests' names were tied to an array of different flower stems.

Photography: Olivia Leigh Photographie

Watercolor Paintings

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The mother of the bride created large watercolor paintings that were cut into tags and calligraphed by Angelique Ink. Each was hung with baker's twine from a stenciled screen the couple brought from their apartment.

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Photography: Gia Canali Photography

Crystal Escort Cards

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To incorporate the natural beauty and spiritual connotation of natural crystals into Gabrielle and Chris's wedding in Wine Country, small stones were wrapped in copper wire and affixed to tags made by wedding planner and designer, Amy Kaneko, and stationer, Bella Figura.

Photography: KT Merry

Mirrored Seating Display

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A charming mirrored seating chart with names written in vinyl helps guests find their tables.

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Photography: Ryan Ray

Wooden Ladder Escort Card Display

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Tag-shaped cards with guests’ names and table numbers are strung between two ladders for a warm, rustic look.

Photography: Alan Friedman

Vintage Mirror Seating Display

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Vintage mirrors doubled as seating charts for the adults at this North Carolina garden reception while the bride's personal dressing table directed the young guests to the kids' table.

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Photography: Thomas Straub

Jeweled Escort Card Display

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A vibrant display of gem shapes cut from clear Lucite (I Love Lucite made these, 310-966-0740) show guests where they are seated. Cover them with calligraphed photography gels cut to fit, then hang with fishing line from a rod near your reception space -- the closer the better, so loved ones don't forget where to sit.

Leaf Escort Cards

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In lieu of an escort table, tuck leaves into slits in branches -- guests will see the arrangement as a piece of modern art.

Charming Napkin Name Tags

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Instead of place cards, opt for this unique idea: String metal trinkets and hand-punched name tags onto ribbons, then tie them around napkins to be laid at each spot. After dinner, guests can wear them as bracelets.

Die-Cut Bird Escort Cards

Photo Escort Cards

An old photo of each wedding guest serves as a personalized escort card labled with their seating assignment -- not to mention a fun conversation starter.

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Photography: Kate Sears

Playing Card Seating Assignments

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Deal out seating cards disguised as the playing variety to guide guests to their tables. (Manifesto Letterpress created ours.) Place them in stands on tables, and you've got style in spades.

Photography: Johnny Miller

Hanging Escort Card Display

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The best part about this display is it doubles as decoration. Once attendees slide off the papers bearing their table numbers, the ribbons remain as cheery party streamers (we used M&J Trimming 1-inch Chromspun ribbon).

To hang them, loop one end over a dowel suspended from the ceiling; secure with a dot of glue. You can also drape them from tree branches or tack them to a wall. (One crafting tip: Be sure the slits in the cards are a smidge wider than the ribbon -- otherwise they won't slip down easily.)

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Photography: Ella Blue Studio

Map Seating Chart

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To play up a travel theme, give reception tables city names instead of numbers. Frame a large map with guest names listed near each point on the map so they can navigate to their seat.

Photography: MAURA MCEVOY

Spring Flower Escort-Card Display

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Single silk cosmos in juice glasses bear tags with each guest's name and table number. Print the tags from a computer in color onto card stock. Cut cards to size, and trim with scallop shears. Punch a hole in each; tie to a flower with waxed twine.

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Lavender Seating Cards

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For an aromatic seating card, two strips of paper -- with the guest's name printed on one end and the table number on the other -- are tied with satin ribbon to lavender wrapped with floral tape.

Confetti Place Cards

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To go along with a confetti theme, toss a smattering of color-coordinated circles announcing guests' names and table numbers. To ensure that your palette is as elegant as it is effervescent, make sure to mix in muted shades with neon brights.

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Photography: Formula Z/S

Mini Chair Escort Cards

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These tiny chairs may be too small for sitting, but they are the perfect size for displaying guests' names and table numbers. The seats are made from heavyweight paper -- we used pale yellow for ladies and pale green for gents -- and can be calligraphed or run through a printer. Tidy rows, however, won't stay that way if a breeze blows by, so make this an indoor display.

Autumn Foliage Escort Cards

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For a rustic autumn wedding, craft-punched bright paper leaves bearing guests' names transform bare branches into majestic trees; we cut slits into the branches with a craft knife and then slid in the leaves.

Sewn Escort-Card Flags

Bold Escort Cards

Escort cards letterpressed at Hatch Show Print and written out by the couple's friend hang on painted shutters.

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Vintage Door Display

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Black-and-white escort tags hang from an eclectic mix of knobs from Anthropologie mounted on a vintage door.

Typewriter Key Escort Cards

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Vintage typewriter keys, most of them from 1920s Smith Coronas and Remingtons, are set on place cards to direct guest to their dinner tables.

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Scrabble Place Card

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Scrabble letters come together to create playful seating assignments at each table setting of this real wedding.

Chalk Seating Assignments

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In place of an traditional escort card that guests can carry to their seat, seat assignments are found outlined in chalk on a roll of black paper at each table.

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French Door Display

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Write seating assignments on glass-paned doors to show off your reception scenery.

Photography: Charles Maraia

Paper Butterfly Escort Cards

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Paper butterflies alight on the rims of Champagne glasses, staying still just long enough for guests to find their seats.

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Message in a Bottle

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Tuck seating assignments inside miniature glass bottles on a table labeled with guests' names so they can find their seats.

Banner Seating Chart

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Outline guests' seating assignments on a custom-printed banner that can be kept as a keepsake.

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Queen of Hearts Escort Cards

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The number of hearts on tented playing cards designates table assignments. The guests' names are on the other side.

Photography: CHARLES MARAIA

Constellation Seating Cards

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Instead of labeling each table with a number, give each a constellation. Stamp it on a card, and place in a holder. Then guide your guests to their tables by making them seating cards with their table's constellation inside.

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Alphabetical Seating Poster

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Guests' names are listed alphabetically on this seating chart so they are easy to find; an escort pin identifying their table sits next to each name.

Cherry Blossom Escort Card Display

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To make our escort card holder any time of year, insert a few leafy branches (we used quince) into a vase and, using map pins, attach blossom-shaped confetti, each bearing a name and table number.

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Photography: Sabine Scherer Photography

Lavender Escort Cards

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Lavender bunches from a local farm are tied together with calligraphed name tags.

Photography: Andrea&Renata

Window Pane Display

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"Peanuts" characters and guests' names were drawn in panes of a window frame, then hung in the trees, for this outdoor real wedding.

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Photography: Jose Villa

Vintage Escort-Card Display

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Paper-flag escort cards hung on two vintage windows at this country real wedding, which were propped up against the venue's old pickup truck.

Star Map Seating Chart

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Rather than relying on escort cards, let guests find their tables (all named for constellations) on a star chart-style seating diagram.

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Photography: Natalie Shelton

Vintage Stamped Escort Cards

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Inked with vintage letter and number stamps from Anthropologie, escort-card tags hung from lines of packing string at this colorful wedding in Marfa, Texas.

Vintage Springs

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Beneath the towering floral arrangement were vintage springs, arranged on a mirrored tabletop, that held escort cards to lead guests to their tables.

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Succulent Place Setting

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A calligraphed favor box and a napkin decorated with a hand-dyed silk ribbon and tiny succulent awaited guests at place settings.